Cutting and storage device

ABSTRACT

Our invention is a combined cutting and storage device designed for use by a smoker who can not or chooses not to finish an entire cigarette. The device contains a cutting mechanism and a sealed storage compartment with a vertical pop-up lid for use with a single unfinished cigarette. A smoker can simply cut an unfinished cigarette or smoking material with the cutting means and place it in the sealed storage compartment for later use. The sealed storage compartment may be inserted into a box or pack of cigarettes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a portable cigarette cutter and container. A number of cigarette or cigar containers are known in the art. For example, Nielander U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,952 is directed to a portable cigarette cutter, extinguisher and conveyance apparatus. A cigarette is inserted into an aperture located co-axially in a comparatively large, round cylindrical container having a lower reservoir 14 and upper enclosure and receiver assembly 16. The Nielander container is shown much larger than the size of a cigarette. Next, the user pushes a member 18 which moves a blade traversely through the cigarette to slice off part of it. The sliced-off part of the cigarette is moved into the reservoir and deprived of air, causing it to extinguish. Nielander specifically asserts that this device has a “convenient size to be readily portable” and that it is a “conveyance apparatus” (among other things). However, it appears that Nielander does not contemplate transporting the cigarette in the disclosed apparatus, but instead the consumed portions (ashes). Thus, Nielander states, “The cigarette smoker using the invention will retain the cigarette 12 without the severed portion 158 as noted in FIG. 8 and store it in a cigarette pack for further usage.” Col. 8 lines 21-24. Accordingly, Nielander does not provide a combination cigarette cutter and transport case for the unused portion of the severed cigarette. Moreover, the container of the device disclosed in Nielander is many times larger than a single cigarette and is not suitable for carrying in a shirt or pants pocket, for example.

Numerous other patents are directed to a cigarette or cigar extinguisher or storage device. Sieggen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,177 discloses a device that is roughly shaped like a fountain pen for extinguishing and storing a cigarette. Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,953 is another cylindrical-shaped cigarette snuffer. Taylor mentions the snuffer may be placed in a cigarette pack, however, Taylor does not mention a cutting device. Musick U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,981 discloses a cylindrical device for a lighted cigar holder, which is also applicable to cigarettes. This permits the user to carry a lighted cigar or cigarette on his person. Musetti U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,715 is for a “pocket ashtray” in which a cigarette or cigar is extinguished. This too is a cylindrical shape, pen-size device. See also Irvin U.S. Pat. No. 2,371,445; Field U.S. Pat. No. 2,715,961; and Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 2,120,027. Another prior art apparatus combines a writing tool with a cigarette extinguisher. See Chiang U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,073. Mauldin U.S. Pat. No. 7,409,955 discloses a device which allows for the clipping or severing the used part of a cigarette and the insertion of the remaining unused portion into a compact carrying case for storage and subsequent use, however, it does not mention a device with a vertical and sealable pop-up lid nor the ability to place the device in a box of cigarettes. Furthermore, this document does not mention the use of fire-resistant material for the storage device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention was designed to help a smoker make a clean cut off a cigarette that has not been completely finished. The smoker can extinguish the lit end of the cigarette and insert it into the bored out hole of the device of the invention. A clean cut can then be made off the burned end. The device has a sealed storage compartment with a vertical pop up lid that stores the cut cigarette without tainting the rest of the pack. The device is preferably designed and shaped so that it can fit in a space of fewer than three cigarettes within a box of cigarettes.

Many cigarette smokers encounter certain times where they can not or do not want to finish an entire cigarette. A smoker chooses to throw away the unused and extinguished cigarette because of the foul odor of a single unfinished cigarette as well as the fact that it taints the remaining unused cigarettes in the pack.

For the purposes of this specification, a smoking material should be understood to mean an object or device such as a cigarette or cigar which is smoked by a smoker and accordingly includes without being limited thereto, various sizes of plain and filtered cigarettes, non-filtered cigarettes, cigars, cheroots and the like. For the purposes of this specification, a fire-resistant material may include fire-retardant or intumescent materials. For the purposes of this specification, the vertical pop-up lid or sealed storage compartment may be made of one or more shapes, including, but not limited to rounded, square or triangular design. The preferred design of the vertical pop-up lid and sealed storage compartment is a rounded shape.

The ability to save an unfinished cigarette to use at a later time will save smokers money. One object of this invention is also to provide a method for storing a partially smoked cigarette within or outside of a box of cigarettes using the device which contains a cutting mechanism and a sealed storage compartment with a vertical pop-up lid. A smoker can simply cut an unfinished cigarette or smoking material with the cutting means and place it in the sealed storage compartment for later use. Using the device and method of this invention a smoker can save up to three quarters of an unfinished cigarette to smoke later. Due to ever-increasing costs and taxes on cigarettes, a smoker's costs will be reduced using this invention. Smokers may also cut down on the amount of cigarettes smoked. A further object of this invention is to provide a method of cutting and storing a smoking material comprising inserting an extinguished smoking material into a bored out hole, applying pressure to the bottom portion of the cutting mechanism to create a clean cut off of the burned end, forcing the blade through the center of the bored out hole, and placing the smoking material into a sealed storage compartment with a pop-up lid. The sealed storage compartment may then be inserted into a box or pack of cigarettes or cigars, either of standard size or larger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention and advantages is described by reference from the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the device showing the sealed storage compartment and the completely assembled cutting mechanism in two sections before they are threaded together.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device showing the sealed storage compartment and the completely assembled cutting mechanism threaded together forming one entire piece.

FIG. 3 is a bottom sectional view of the vertical pop up lid.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the sealed storage compartment.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the completely assembled cutting mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the top portion of the cutting mechanism showing the external tracks, internal tracks, springs, female threads and the bored out hole.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the bottom portion of the cutting mechanism showing the blade guide hooks, the steel cutting blade, and supporting hooks.

FIG. 8 is a complete front view of the device showing how to make a clean cut off a cigarette in addition to showing where the smoker can place it in the sealed storage compartment.

FIG. 9 is a view showing how the device can be placed into the box of unused cigarettes.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTS & NUMBERS REFERENCED IN THE DRAWINGS

The parts of the device may be made of various materials such as plastics and metals. Plastic materials may also include polymeric and rubbery materials, for example, polystyrenic materials. Metals may include but are not limited to aluminum, copper, bronze, brass or mild steel. All the parts of the device are preferably injection molded except for the steel blade (14) and the two springs (13). The blade and the springs are preferably made of stainless steel to help avoid tarnish, rust or stains.

The device has a sealed storage compartment (1). The overall size of the sealed storage compartment (1) will vary depending on the type of cigarette (10) or smoking material it is intended to hold. A vertical pop-up lid (2) with a tab (3) for easy opening and closing is attached to the top of the sealed storage compartment (1) by a snap-on hinge (5). Two lid hooks (4) are injection molded on the vertical pop-up lid (2). The two lid hooks (4) connect to the snap-on hinge (5) which is injection molded on the top of the sealed storage compartment (1). An indent (6) is injection molded within the inner diameter of the vertical pop-up lid (2) to provide a seal when it is closed. This seal protects the pack of unused cigarettes (17) from getting tainted. Male threads (7) extend off the bottom of the sealed storage compartment (1).

The completely assembled cutting mechanism (FIG. 5) has female threads (8) inside the top portion which connects it to male threads (7) extending off the bottom of the sealed storage compartment (1).

The completely assembled cutting mechanism (FIG. 5) consists of two parts: the first being the top portion of the cutting mechanism (FIG. 6) and the second is the bottom portion of the cutting mechanism (FIG. 7).

A hole (9) is bored out of the top portion of the cutting mechanism (FIG. 6) so an unfinished cigarette (10) or smoking material can be inserted through it for a clean cut. The unfinished cigarette (10) or smoking material may be extinguished before it is inserted for the cut. Once a clean cut is made, the unfinished cigarette (10) or smoking material can be placed in the sealed storage compartment (1) and closed shut by simply pressing down on the tab (3) and vertical pop-up lid (2) simultaneously. This process is shown in (FIG. 8).

The smoker is now capable of placing the device with the stored unfinished cigarette (10) or smoking material back into the box of unused cigarettes (17). This process is shown in (FIG. 9).

The top portion of the cutting mechanism (FIG. 6) has two interior tracks (11) and four exterior tracks (12). The two interior tracks (11) are in place so they can house two springs (13) and two guide hooks (15). The two springs (13) rest inside the two interior tracks (11). The two blade guide hooks (15) are located on each side of the steel blade (14) as shown in (FIG. 7). The two blade guide hooks (15) are set inside the bottom end of the two interior tracks (11). The two blade guide hooks (15) push the two springs (13) up and down the inside of the two interior tracks (11). These two blade guide hooks (15) also allow the steel blade (14) to retract up and down through the center of the bored out hole (9). The steel blade (14) is mounted at the base of the bottom portion of the cutting mechanism (FIG. 7) on the inside. Four supporting hooks (16) are injection molded into the bottom portion of the cutting mechanism. The four supporting hooks (16) are set inside the bottom of the four exterior tracks (12). The four supporting hooks (16) slide inside the four exterior tracks (12). These four supporting hooks (16) are used to add more strength when the bottom portion of the cutting mechanism (FIG. 7) and the top portion of the cutting mechanism (FIG. 6) are connected together. The four supporting hooks (16) also help guide the steel blade (14) up and down through the center of the bored out hole (9). 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A method of cutting and storing a smoking material comprising inserting an extinguished smoking material into a bored out hole applying pressure to the bottom portion of the cutting mechanism forcing the blade through the center of the bored out hole cutting the burned end off of a partially smoked smoking material and placing the smoking material into a sealed storage compartment with a pop-up lid.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the sealed storage compartment is placed in a box of cigarettes.
 9. A method of storing a partially smoked cigarette using the device of claim
 1. 10. A method of storing a partially smoked cigarette by placing the device of claim 1 in a box of cigarettes.
 11. A multi-function container device for use with a cigarette, comprising: a substantially cylindrical storage container having an interior compartment for storing a cigarette, the storage container having a first end defining an opening in communication with the interior compartment and a second end that is closed and which is opposite the first end, the second end having threads thereon; a lid pivotally attached to the storage container at the first end, the lid being pivotal between a first position that closes the opening in the first end and a second position that exposes the opening in the first end; and a cutting device removably attached to the second end of the storage container, wherein the cutting device comprises a portion having threads which are engaged to the threads on the second end of the storage container such that the cutting device is threadedly attached to the second end of storage container, the cutting device comprising a cutting blade and a space for receiving a portion of a cigarette that is to be cut with the cutting blade.
 12. The multi-function container device according to claim 11 wherein the lid has an exterior side and an opposite interior side, the opposite interior side having a raised portion that is sized to frictionally fit into the opening in the first end of the storage container when the lid is completely closed, the lid further including a tab to enable a user to open the lid.
 13. A multi-function container device for use with a cigarette, comprising: a storage container having an interior compartment for storing a cigarette, the storage container having a first end defining an opening in communication with the interior compartment and a second end that is closed and which is opposite the first end, the second end having threads thereon; a lid pivotally attached to the storage container at the first end, the lid being pivotal between a first position that closes the opening in the first end and a second position that exposes the opening in the first end, the lid having an exterior side and an opposite interior side, the opposite interior side having a raised portion that is sized to frictionally fit into the opening in the first end of the storage container when the lid is completely closed, the lid further including a tab to enable a user to open the lid; and means, removably attached to the second end of the storage container, for cutting away a portion of a cigarette.
 14. The multi-function container device according to claim 14 wherein the storage container is generally cylindrical in shape and the lid is generally circular in shape. 